Earth-auger



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoif.-

JOHN F. DOUD, F VASSAR, MIGHlGAN.

EARTH-Aucas.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent N0. 240,012, dated April 12, 1881.

Application filed August 30, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN' F. DOUD, ot Vas sar, in the county of Tuscola and State of Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Boring Wells, of which the following is a specification.

The nature of this invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in that class of devices employed for boring wells and removing theearth and sand therefrom; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of the various. parts, their combinations and operations, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

Figure l is a rectangular shaft carrying an auger-point and horizontal and vertical cutters.

Fig. 2 represents the shaft with the point, horizontal and vertical cutters, and elevator-bottom, with liauge on the shaft, and the elevator-case shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is an inverted perspective of the elevator-bottom and case. Fig. 4. is a modification, showing a different point and a slightly different construction of cutter and elevator. Fig. 5 is an inverted perspective of the saine. Fig. 6 is a perspective of a derrick in operation, withdrawing the elevator from the well-bore, and also showing a lever pivoted thereto to engage with the collar on the shaft. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective of the pivoted lever; and Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the shaft-collar.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents a rectangular shaft adapted, as shown at a, to be lengthened by additional pieces by a rectangular socket in the end of one piece engaging with the adjoining end of another piece, which is made smaller for the pnrpose,the separate pieces being secured together by a pin or bolt, or secured together in any other convenient way that will preserve a uniform size in the whole length of shaft. The lower end of this shaft is provided with a point, b, and a horizontal cutter, c, its outer end terminating in a vertical cutter, d, the length of the cutter c determining the size of the bore.

B is an elevator-bottom (partially spiral in form) around the sleeve or shaft C, to the bottom of which it is secured, said shaft being hollow, to fit and easily slide upon the shaft A. This bottom B is so arranged that the lower portion of its spiralforms acontinuation, upon the rear side'thereof, of the horizontalcuttervc, so that in the rotation of the shaft A. the earth is cut by the cutters c d into spiral ribbons, which are carried through the throat s in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2 onto the elevator-bottom.

When it is desired to lift the earth out of the bore it is done by means of the rope e passing over the pulley f of the derrick D, the lower end of such rope being attached to the staple g upon the hollow shaft IG, leaving the shaftAand its cutters in the bore. It' the soil is stiff, like clay, the sides of the bore allow this to be done without difficulty. Where the soil is sandy it is desirable to employ the casing E, which is provided with one or more springcatches, 71 to engage with the notches i, by

meansof which it is secured to the bottom B. VIn this case it is necessary to use the detachable valve 7c, to close the throat leading from the horizontal cutterconto the bottom, to prevent the san-d escaping therefrom. A collar, Z, is adjustably secured upon the shaft A by means ofthe set-screw m. This is secured upon that portion ofthe shaft nearest or opposite the pivoted lever F. This lever terminates in bifurcated bearings, and its use, in connection with the collar, is, that if, in the rotation of the shaft, the cutters should strike a stone, which would endanger the apparatus, the operator engages the bifurcated end of the lever with a groove, l', on the under side of the flange, and depressing the other end of the lever raises the shaft A, with its cutters, above the stone, which will be loosened and partially turned out of its bed bysuch action. The lever is then released, allowing the shaft and cutters to drop, and in the further rotation of the shaft the loosened stone will he carried onto the elevator-bottom B. p

When it is necessary to tube a portion of the bore before the latter is completed, the shaft and cutters having been removed for that purpose, and it becomes necessary to continue the bore below the lower end of the tubing, the cutters c d, or the length of the shaft to which they are attached, is removed, and the shaft A is engaged with the shaft' A, and to A are secured the vertical cutters o, the cutting-edges of which are presented in opposite directions, and to the bottoms of these cutters IOC is secured the plate p, cut away, as shown in Fig. 4, and terminating in a cutting-lip, r. In the rotation of this cutter the side Walls of the bore are cut smoothly, and the earth carried up onto the plate 19 and brought to the surface in the usualmanner. ln passing` through quicksands a casing, E', is secured in any convenient Way, so that the platep forms the bottom of the elevator.

The devices for tubing a portion ofthe bore before the latter is completed, as above described, and represented in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, form no part of this application, and hereafter will form the subject-matter of a separate application.

It will be found in practice that the use ot' the devices, substantially as described, which are inexpensive in construction, will very much facilitate the labor of well-boring, and allow it to be done with great rapidity.

What 1 claim as my invention is- 1. The combination, with the shaft A, provided with the point b and cutters c d, of the spiral plate B, havin g the recesses i and throat S, sleeve C, casing E; provided With springcatches h, valve k, and means, substantially as set forth, for raising and lowering the plate and casin g, as and for the purpose described.

2. rlhe combination, with the shaft A, having the point b and horizontal and vertical cutters c d, of the spiral plate B, having the throat S, sleeve C, collar l, having a groove on its under face, set-screw m, and lever- F, terminati n g in bifurcated bearings n u, substantially as described, and for the purpose setforth.

' Y JOHN F. DOUD.

Witnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE,

F. J. SCOTT. 

